Strength Through Trial — September 26, 2013

Untried character is not reliable. We are to be tried by temptation in order that we may learn to seek wisdom from God and to flee to the stronghold in time of trouble. He alone will be successful in resisting temptation who finds help and grace from God. Individually we stand as did our first parents–face to face with manifold temptations that solicit mind and heart. All heaven is watching with intense interest to see whether we will look unto Jesus and submit ourselves to His will, or whether in the temptation we shall follow the inclinations of the natural heart and the solicitations of the evil one.

Let those who are perplexed with temptation go to God in prayer. . . . Persevere in prayer and watch thereunto without doubting, and the Holy Spirit will work in the human agent, bringing heart and mind into subjection to right principles.

Those who through faith are kept by the power of God learn good and precious things. They experience the peace of Christ which passeth understanding. In resisting temptation you refuse to be confederate with Satan, and place yourselves under the banner of Jesus Christ. In the sight of heavenly intelligences you develop yourself as a conqueror. It is made manifest that you are a son of God. . . .

You represent Christ in true goodness of character, and understand what these words signify: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. . . . And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1:14-16). You receive grace, you develop grace; and as you reveal grace in your words, in your spirit and actions, God pours upon you a larger measure of grace. In proportion as you surrender yourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit you are supplied with heavenly grace. You are molded and fashioned a vessel unto honor, and become a channel through which God makes manifest His grace to the world.

That I May Know Him p. 276

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Prayer Requests

—–Please keep my niece Cassandra in your prayers. She was in a head on collision yesterday. Lacy

—–Please pray for John Bradshaw, speaker/director of It Is Written. A biopsy has showed that cancer is in his lymph nodes. He is receiving radiation treatment at Loma Linda. The radiation poses a risk to his

voice box, his vocal chords and larynx. Although every medical protection will be used, it is only God’s divine hand that will bring John through this ordeal. Please pray that God will place his protective hand over John so that he will be able to continue his great and vast ministry for the cause of God. Satan is going around like a roaring lion. Please remember Mark Finley, Shawn Boonstra and all of our evangelists in your prayers. Time is getting short and Satan does not want to see this work go forward and people turning to God. Diane

—–This is to request you to kindly uplift Robin in your prayers for him to excel in his studies and to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Lalitha

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Dear Friends

One of my high school classmates is doing a great job of keeping us informed about the happenings in other classmates’ lives. I recently received an update on how several of them fared in the recent flooding in Colorado. Thankfully the most that they had was a flooded basement.

Disasters by fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, are becoming more and more common on this old planet. Our Dear Saviour foretold these devastations, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matt 24:7 Truly God is our only protection in this sinful, old world. Only God can keep us from harm so that nothing like these recent happenings would happen to us and those we love.

One time a few years ago, when I was frightened by a news report, our Heavenly Father sent me an assuring message. While making my daily deliveries within the courthouse where I worked, I rode the elevator with a young man. We began talking about the recent happenings. I pointed up and said, “We have only one protection.” He smiled a big smile and said, “Amen! For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7 Just then we arrived at the ninth floor, and he got off. Joy filled my heart where fear had been. God had used a young man in an elevator to give me just the Bible text that I needed to hear.

Truly our only protection is in a God Who is places a hedge of protection about us, Who loves us “with an everlasting love,” Who draws us with His lovingkindness,” Who upholds “all things by the word of his power.” Job 1:10; Jer31:3; Heb 1:3 Our only safety is in the One Who cares deeply about what goes on in our life just as He cared for the Children of Israel in days of old. Isaiah exclaims, “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. Isa 63:7-9

“I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” Jer 15:21 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” Isa 43:1-3 “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8

What a Wonderful Redeemer! What a Dear and Loving Friend! He is always there guiding, protecting, watching over us. We can trust in Him knowing that nothing can happen to us that is not within His will! “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

May we ever praise our Great Creator for His wonderful love and care. May we declare as did the psalmist, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Ps 32:7;119:114 May we, no matter what transpires around us, put our trust in Him.